The Godolphin Team are likely to give Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Impendiung his chance to claim back to back wins in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 9.
Impending, above, is a chance to chase back to back wins in the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Impending produced a late burst in the straight to overhaul the Kris Lees trained Le Romain to win his second Group 1 trophy at Doomben last Saturday’s in the $700,000 Altus Traffic Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m).
Impending carried the Godolphin royal blue colours to victory in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap when under the care of Darren Beadman but is now prepared by new trainer James Cummings.
Cummings said after the win in the Kingsford-Smith Cup that Impending was likely to push on for the Stradbroke Handicap and Godolphin’s Australian Manager Vin Cox backed up the trainer’s thoughts even though he is expecting the Lonhro stallion to get around 57.5kg when weights are released today.
“That’s right in the slot of what we would have expected,” Cox told The Courier-Mail.
“He’s a weight-for-age Group 1 winner now and he won the race last year, so he’s entitled to get that.
“We will discuss it (Monday), but the intent was always to have a crack at the Stradbroke and things would have to go terribly wrong for him not to run. He’s absolutely thriving in Queensland.”
Impending is on the second line of Stradbroke Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $6.50 behind the three year old filly Champagne Cuddles who sits at the top of the market order at $5.50.
The Bjorn Baker trained Champagne Cuddles will have a distinct weight advantage in the Stradbroke Handicap and put herself in contention when she stepped up to weight for age for the first time with an eye catching third to Impending in the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
“I thought her run was excellent on Saturday,” Baker said.
“She looks well placed with that weight, so we just want to draw a gate now. I felt that was the difference between winning and losing the Kingsford Smith Cup.”
Early betting for 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Champagne Cuddles, $6.50 Impending, $8.50 Care To Think, Le Romain, $10 In Her Time, Osburne Bulls, $12 Perast, $16 English, $18 Sambro, Santa Ana Lane, Spieth, $21 Crack Me Up, Danon Liberty, Invincible Gem, Land Of Plenty, Mr Sneaky, Peaceful State, Ulmann, $26 or better the rest.
